Here is a weekly wrap-up of University of Scranton athletic events. To see the full Royal Review release, visit http://matrix.scranton.edu/athletics/gnapr112011.shtml.

Baseball (8-14/4-5 Landmark Conference)
The Royals opened the period with a 5-1 victory over Susquehanna University in the finale of a three-game Landmark Conference series on Monday, April 4, at Connell Park.

Junior pitcher Corey Gorman (Laflin/Coughlin) turned in a masterful performance, striking out five and scattering six hits to pick up his third victory of the season.  He got plenty of help on the offensive end as sophomore Michael Amaturo (Rye, N.Y./Rye) hit an RBI double and senior David Giglio (Wallingford, Conn./Xavier) followed with a two-run double in the first inning as Scranton jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Giglio also drove in an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.

The Royal bats, however, were no match for Moravian College’s pitching staff in dropping all three games of a Landmark Conference series at Gillespie Field in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10.

In the opening game of the series, a 6-0 loss, senior Chris Stallone (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) had Scranton’s only hit off Greyhound hurler Brendan Close, that being an infield single with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.

The following day, the Royals managed only 12 hits—all singles—in dropping both games of the 7-inning doubleheader by the identical scores of 4-2.

Golf (6-0)
Sophomore Chris Schank (Dunmore, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) shot a five-over-par 76 in rainy weather conditions to lead the Royals to victories over FDU-Florham, 322-332, and Wilkes University, 322-338, on Wednesday, April 6, at Glenmaura National Golf Club in  nearby Moosic, Pennsylvania.

The Royals’ depth offset two sub-80 rounds by Matt Molinaro (72) and Nick Sica (74) of FDU-Florham and Matt Kachurak (72) and Bob Hillibush (76) of Wilkes University.  Scranton’s four other players—senior Brad Sparks (Forest City, Pa./Forest City Regional), sophomore Justin Riley (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) and freshmen Charles Hudacek (Moosic, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) and Andrew Loyack (Greenfield Township, Pa./Scranton Preparatory)—each carded an 82.  Neither FDU-Florham nor Wilkes’s final three players were able to break 90.

Men’s Lacrosse (5-6/1-1 Landmark Conference)
The Royals lost a pair of heart-breaking games this week, starting with a 9-8 decision in overtime to St. John Fisher College on Tuesday, April 5, at Fitzpatrick Field.

Scranton fought back from an 8-4 deficit to tie the game on the second of two fourth-period goals by senior attacker Sean Coleman (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) with 3:27 remaining.  The Royals had their chances to win, both in regulation and in overtime. Scranton, unfortunately, misfired on three shot attempts on its final possession in the closing minute of regulation and another Royal shot attempt in the overtime period was saved by Cardinal goalkeeper Matt McShea. 

St. John Fisher pulled out the win moments after McShea’s save on a behind-the-back shot attempt by Mitch Ritchie that found the back to the net.

On Saturday, April 9, the Royals built up an 8-6 lead in the fourth period before Drew University scored four of the game’s final five goals to pull out a 10-9 victory in Landmark Conference action at Ranger Stadium in Madison, N.J.

Senior attacker Robert Pantages (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) and sophomore attacker Taylor Nelson (Chester Springs/Downingtown East) combined for six of Scranton’s seven second-half goals. All three of Pantages’s goals were scored during a three-minute span in the third period, while Nelson scored all three of his goals in the fourth period.

Women’s Lacrosse (8-2/1-0 Landmark Conference)
The Royals scored nine straight goals in the second half to erase a two-point halftime deficit to defeat Cabrini College, 16-11, on Thursday, April 7, in Radnor.

The win snapped a four-game series losing streak to the Cavaliers and extended Scranton’s season-long winning streak to eight games, its longest since winning 14 consecutive games in 2004.

Senior Caroline Pryor (Robbinsville, N.J./Notre Dame) and first-year attacker Kerry Sullivan (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) led the way with three goals apiece and senior defender Katie Slade (Buckingham/Central Bucks East), sophomore midfielder Jilliana DePaolera (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) and sophomore attacker Kaitlin Lazorko (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy) contributed two each.  Defensively, sophomore goalie Kathleen Smart (Hatboro/Archbishop Wood) finished with a career-high 12 saves.

Softball (10-6/3-1 Landmark)
The Royals split a Landmark Conference doubleheader against Juniata College on Sunday, April 10, in Huntingdon.

Junior Ashley Vosilla (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) hit two home runs to spark Scranton to a 10-0 victory in the opener.  In the nightcap, the Royals managed just two hits—singles by Kaitlyn Frazza (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and senior Annie Zeleniak (Taylor/Scranton Preparatory) — off Eagle freshman pitcher Kelsea Decker in dropping a 1-0 decision.

In the first game, winning pitcher Samantha Boccolini (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) allowed just four hits and struck out two to pick up the complete-game victory and improve to 4-3 on the season.

Men’s Tennis (6-3/3-0 Landmark)
The men’s tennis team defeated Susquehanna University, 9-0, on Saturday, April 9, at the Poly-Hi Tennis Courts on campus to move into a tie for first place in the Landmark Conference. 

The Royals received two wins apiece from senior Carl Caceres (Teaneck, N.J./Bergen Catholic), freshman David Teres (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon), and sophomores Tim McGurrin (Clarks Summit/Scranton Preparatory), Joe Morra (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Preparatory) and Mike Pannone (Maplewood, N.J./Seton Hall Preparatory). Scranton’s other win in singles was recorded by sophomore Jonathan Russo (Madison, N.J./Madison).

Women’s Tennis (4-7/2-1 Landmark)
The women’s tennis held off Susquehanna University, 5-4, on Saturday, April 3, at the Poly-Hi Tennis Court to remain tied for second place in the Landmark Conference standings.

In the last match of the day with the score tied 4-4, junior Caitlin Ehly (Philadelphia/Saint Basil Academy) provided the heroics for the Royals, downing Cassie Zerbe, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.  Scranton also received two wins apiece from senior Danielle Wylie (Schnecksville/Parkland) and junior Elisha Connell (Orangeburg, N.Y./Albertus Magnus).